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The Chatterton Massacre took place on the morning of 26 April 1826, the third and penultimate day of the Lancashire RisingProtests by hand loom weavers in 1826 in Lancashire, prompted by the economic hardship resulting from a slump in the textile industry, and focused on the destruction of the much more efficient power looms., outside Aitkens and Lords Mill in the villageSmall rural collection of buildings with a church. of Chatterton, near Ramsbottom, east Lancashire. At least six people were shot dead by British soldiers of the 60th Duke of York Own Rifles.[1]
The Lancashire Rising took place in protest against the economic hardship suffered by traditional hand-loom weavers. After a period of prosperity in the 1810s, the textile industry suffered a serious slump in 1825. Weavers who had been employed to supplement production at local factories, which were increasingly making use of the much more efficient power looms, were the first to be hit.[2] Workers were being forced to accept reduced wages and short-time work or had become unemployed. But at the same time millowners were investing hugely in the machines that would allow them to reduce wages and their workforces even further.[3]
The intention of the protesters was to destroy all the power looms in east Lancashire, without the unnecessary destruction of property or any violence to the person.[1] They saw the power loom as “a real and symbolic manifestation of the loss of the weaver’s independence as well as a threat to their livelihood”.[3]
An estimated crowd of 3,000–4,000 from the adjacent towns of Haslingden and Rawtenstall headed towards the mill at Chatterton, where they found the local magistrate, William Grant, and British soldiers under the command of Colonel Kearney waiting for them. Kearney’s force was comprised of 15 cavalrymen from the Queen’s Bays, and 20 riflemen from the 60th Duke of York Own Rifles.[4]
Riot Act
Shortly before 11:00 am, Grant read a short extract from the Riot Act 1714, but the crowd refused to disperse.[1] The Act having been read, it was now legal for the soldiers to kill anyone in the crowd, and allow the mill owners to claim compensation for any damage done to their property.[4]
Colonel Kearney then lined up his riflemen in two ranks of ten and ordered them to open fire on the protesters; during the next 15 minutes 600 shots were fired into the crowd. Although there is some evidence that many of the soldiers aimed to miss, four people were shot dead, and at least four others were seriously wounded.[4]
Victims
James Lord was the first to be killed, shot in the back of the head after throwing a stone at Colonel Kearney. John Ashworth and James Rothwell were shot shortly afterwards, both dying instantaneously. But undeterred, the crowd broke into the Aitkens and Mills factory and succeeded in destroying all of its power looms. The fourth victim, Richard Lund, was shot while attempting to make his escape through a factory window, and bled to death.[4]
As the crowd eventually dispersed, the soldiers began hunting down those they believed had taken part in the protest. Their next victim was Mary Simpson, a 23-year-old woman who had arrived in Edenfield that morning to catch the coach to Manchester. But she had been delayed by the crowd, and the coach had left without her. While waiting for the next coach, she went down to see what was happening in Chatterton, and was shot in the thigh and bled to death.[4]
The sixth victim, James Whatacre, had been at Dearden Clough Mill helping to remove some of the wraps of the power looms to prevent them from being destroyed. Having finished, he and his friend Richard Leech walked down to Chatterton and hid near the cottages opposite the Aitkens and Lords Mill. Whatacre apparently decided that it would be safer inside one of the cottages, and knocked on the door of No. 12 Chatterton Cottages, whereupon he was shot dead at close range by one of the soldiers.[4]
The actual number of those shot and killed at Chatterton may well be in double figures; contemporary newspapers reports tell of additional bodies being recovered on 27 April.[1]
Inquest
The official inquest into the six confirmed deaths was held the following day, 27 April; no members of the press were allowed to attend. The coroners court concluded that James Lord, John Ashworth, James Rothwell and Richard Lund, were “shot as part of the mob”. Mary Simpson’s death was ruled as “accidental”, and that of James Whatacre “murder by an unknown soldier”, despite some local people knowing who the soldier was.[4]
A few weeks later the 60th Duke of York Own Rifles was deployed to Portugal, thus ending any further investigation into their actions.[4]